All-Area Football: Storey Arkansas Offensive Player Of The Year

All-Area Football: Storey Arkansas Offensive Player Of The Year

Mike Bishop * Special to the Times Record Charleston quarterback Ty Storey escapes the pressure of Camden Harmony Grove's Lane Deneen, center, and Harry McClendor during the first quarter of the Tigers' 42-0 win the first round of the 3A state playoffs Friday, Nov. 15, 2013, at Charleston.

All-Area Football: Storey Arkansas Offensive Player Of The Year

BRIAN D. SANDERFORD TIMES RECORD Charleston's Ty Storey gets set to pass as Earle's Corey Garrett, left, and Marcus Lane rush the quarterback during the semifinals of the 3A State Playoffs on Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, at Charleston.

All-Area Football: Storey Arkansas Offensive Player Of The Year

Mike Bishop Special to the Times Record Charleston quarterback Ty Storey fires a pass into the end zone during the first half against Glen Rose on Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, during the quarterfinals of the 3A state playoffs at Charleston.

All-Area Football: Storey Arkansas Offensive Player Of The Year

CHARLESTON — Charleston quarterback Ty Storey verbally committed to the University of Arkansas before his junior season even kicked off, and his relatively average passing numbers early in the season had some people wondering on local sports talk shows if he was the real deal.

What the uninformed was missing was the Storey was simply being a team player and handing off according to the game plan.

“Early in the season, most of the other defenses did everything they could to stop him,” Charleston coach Greg Kendrick said. “They dropped everybody in coverage and dared us to run the football. Ty will take what you give him, he is not going to be greedy. He understands the scheme and offense as well as anybody and if other teams are daring us to run, or giving us the short pass to the backs, that’s what he will do.”

As the season progressed, and Charleston began playing better teams, some of the defenses challenged Storey to beat them with the deep ball. With that, Storey began to put up numbers more commonly seen in video games than reality.

Harding Academy, for example, was the No. 2-ranked team in the state and on a 25-game winning streak when it hosted the Tigers in the quarterfinals of the 3A State Playoffs.

Storey finished that game with an eye-popping 517 yards and seven touchdowns passing.

In 3A State Championship Game, Storey tied the state record with six touchdowns passing and added another 378 yards passing against Glen Rose as the Tigers hoisted the trophy.

For the season, Storey passed for 4,230 yards and 53 touchdowns. For putting up those offensive numbers and leading the Tigers to 15-0 and the 3A title, Storey is the Times Record Arkansas Offensive Player of the Year.

“The Harding Academy game and the state championship against Glen Rose were the biggest games of the year, and they just brought out the best in Ty,” Kendrick said. “He plays his best games when the spotlight is the brightest and the stage is the biggest.”

While Storey has all the physical tools to be an impact in college football, Kendrick says the intangibles are what make him a special player.

“If Ty didn’t play quarterback, he’d still be an All-State linebacker, or fullback or just about whatever position he played,” Kendrick said. “And despite all the attention he gets, he doesn’t take anything for granted. You won’t find anyone on the team that works harder in the weight room or in studying film.”

While putting up superstar stats, Storey stays humble as the ultimate team player.

“I just try to do my job out there and let my teammates make plays,” Storey said. “The only thing I really care about is that the team gets a win.”